The calls for Manchester United to sign a permanent replacement for caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick grew louder when a 1-1 home draw with Southampton last time out went down as another missed opportunity to move into the Premier League’s (PL) top four. To compound matters further, having now drawn 1-1 in two straight games, the ‘Red Devils’ have now failed to win despite leading at half-time in consecutive PL matches for the first time since 1998/99.
Such disappointments are already becoming all too common during Rangnick’s tenure, with his side now having to settle with five full-time draws (excluding extra time) after opening the scoring during his tenure. However with his squad winning each of the last six H2Hs, they could look to that impressive record over Brighton to get themselves back into the top four – which they would achieve with a win here.
Brighton made sure Roy Hodgson’s first home game in charge of Watford was a miserable one, continuing what still stands as the PL’s second-longest active unbeaten streak (W3, D4) with a routine 2-0 triumph. Another win at Old Trafford would see them close to within four points of United, perhaps sparking dreams of their first-ever participation in European football and becoming another impressive bullet point on manager Graham Potter’s CV after he guided Sweden’s Östersund to their maiden UEFA appearance in the 2010s.
A trio of 1-1 draws from their three starts as underdogs during that seven-game unbeaten run – including two against third-placed Chelsea – suggests Brighton are up to any challenge at present. With six of their last ten PL outings finishing 1-1, it wouldn’t be a shock if United were subjected to another such stalemate for a third consecutive week!
Players to watch: United’s Marcus Rashford scored in the second half of both PL H2Hs last season, whilst one of Danny Welbeck’s six team opening goals for Brighton since the start of 2020/21 came in his last trip to Old Trafford.
Hot stat: Brighton have scored before half-time in just three of their last 12 PL matches, but won all three.
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